One final accolade awaited Warwick’s boys soccer team after its magical season. It was given to the man on the sideline.
Matt Wagner has been named Class 4A coach of the year by the Pennsylvania State Coaches Association.
Warwick finished 21-2-1 and captured the Lancaster-Lebanon League championship in October. The Warriors didn’t lose a game until the District Three semifinals.
Warwick boys soccer coach Matt Wagner was named coach of the year in Class 4A.
Wagner was honored and surprised by his selection.
“It’s never about the awards,” Wagner said. “It’s always about being the best versions of ourselves. This group did that. They maximized everything they had. I’m so proud of them for that.”
The other recipients were Delco Christian’s Rob Atkins in Class 1A, Camp Hill’s Justin Sheaffer in Class 2A and Erie Cathedral Prep’s Sam Tojaga in Class 3A. All won state championships.
This award is often a rubber stamp for finishing on top in the PIAA Tournament. Wagner’s recognition dug a little deeper. Warwick has earned two of the school’s three league titles during Wagner’s five seasons. His teams have qualified for states three consecutive years and his overall record is 66-26-6.
Wagner acknowledged his assistants, Brad Mehl and Aaron Schwartz, and athletic director Earl Hazel for helping boys soccer succeed in Lititz.
“I can’t do it without my coaches,” Wagner said. “The fact that I’m getting this is great. But it really should be the coaching staff of the year, in my opinion. I’ll accept it for us. They work equally as hard as I do.”
Mehl filled in as emergency head coach when Wagner was unavailable for medical reasons in the league final, as Warwick beat Elizabethtown.
Wagner has coached at every level at Warwick, from middle school through varsity. Three All-State players have been part of his tenure: Ethan Beck this season, plus Gage Meckley and Jake Smith.
“My biggest thing was making teams earn their wins,” Wagner said. “That encompasses a lot. That encompasses being defensively stout, attacking well and converting chances. Every year it has gotten a little bit better.”
Warwick posted 13 consecutive shutouts at one point and didn’t allow a goal in league play until Conestoga Valley broke through in the final 15 minutes of the last game.
The dream of a state championship ended when Warwick fell to District Seven champ Norwin 1-0 in the first round. Wagner plans to keep working toward that goal.
“I want people to dread playing Warwick,” Wagner said. “We’re almost there.”
This season brought the Warriors much closer.
